Dispensing device for literature and the like



Aug. 15, 1961 CHRIS J. TSAI DISPENSING DEVICE FOR LITERATURE AND THELIKE Filed March 24, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. CHRIS d. TSAI BY IIll s5 \52 L44 .7791. ATTOP/VEY Aug. 15, 1961 DISPENSING DEVICE FORLITERATURE AND THE LIKE Filed March 24, 1959 CHRIS J. TSAI 2,996,219

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TOPMW Aug. 15, 1961 CHRIS J. TSAl 2,996,219

DISPENSING DEVICE FOR LITERATURE AND THE LIKE Filed March 24, 1959 3Sheets-Sheet 3 54 IN VENTOR.

75-15 CHRIS d. TSAI ATTOPATK link d SWSQPW 7 2,996,219 DISPENSING DEVICEFOR LITERATURE AND THELIKE g V, Chris J. Tsai, 39 Hwai Ning St., Taipei,Taiwan, China Filed Mar. 24, 1959, Ser. No. 801,528 4 Claims. (Cl.221-259) This invention concerns a sheet dispensing device and moreparticularly is directed at a device for distributing programs, menus,advertising literature, etc., in theatres, restaurants, schools, andother public places.

An object of the invention is the provision of a device whereby printedand unprinted paper sheets, programs, napkins, leaflets, etc., can bedrawn out automatically one by one by the public without requiring anyattendant to perform such distributing functions.

A further object is the provision of a device of the character describedin which the drawing out of one paper sheet advances'another intoposition for removal from the device.

A still further object is the provision of a device in which endlessrubber belts frictionally contact the top of a pile of paper sheets tobe dispensed, and advance one sheet after another as the successivesheets are drawn.

out of the device.

Another object is the provision of a device of the character describedin which the belts are mounted on a floating frame which rests on thepile of sheets to be dispensed, the weight of the belts and their framesupport providing the traction necessary for advancing the sheets oneafter the other.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects andadvantages thereof, reference will be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which thevarious novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a device embodying the invention.

'FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the device with portions brokenaway to show internal parts.

FIG. 3 is a plan sectional view taken on FIG. 1.

' FIG. 4 is an elevational sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

' FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale taken online 6-6 of FIG. 1.

- FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a drawer employed in the device.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a housing of the device.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a catch member employed for temporary supportof a frame assembly in the device.

FIGS. 10 and 11 are perspective views of frame members employed in thedevice.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 4 and FIG. 8, there is shown a box orhousing 10 having a flat top 12, bottom E14, sides 16 and 18, a rearwall 20, and a front wall 22. The front wall is formed with a largerectangular opening 24 and four spaced threaded holes 26 near thecorners. Side walls 16 and 18 have two long vertical slots 28 and 30. Anadditional slot 32 is formed in wall 18 between slot 30 and the frontwall 22.

' On the top wall 12 is mounted a handle 32. A slot 34 is located in thetop wall. A flat hook 36, best shown in FIG. 9, is pivotally mounted atthe base of the handle and is adapted to be moved parallel to the topwall so that the free end 38 thereof crosses slot 34. The rear wall 20has a large rectangular opening 40 best shown in line 3-3 bf ticallydisposed at the sides of housing 10. One rod is FIG. 4. Extending fromthis opening is a rectangular sleeve-like extension 42 adapted toreceive a drawer 44. This drawer is shown partially inserted into thewall extension 42 in FIG. 8. The drawer, as best shown in FIGS. 7 and 8,has a flat rear wall 46 with a turned top edge 48. Wall 46 is adapted tofit flush against the flanged end 49 of extension 42. Wall 46 is joinedto two upstanding vertical triangular side walls 50 of the drawer. Thebottom 52 of the drawer is rectangular. A handle 53 is disposed on theother side of wall 46 as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. In order tosupport the drawer in the housing 10 there is provided a pair of anglebrackets 54 supported on side walls 16 and 18 and located near thebottom 14. The flat horizontal flanges 55 of the brackets are coplanarand aligned with the bottom of the opening 40 in the rear wall 20.

- A pile of flat rectangular sheets S may be placed in the drawer whichmay then be inserted into the housing in the position shown best inFIGS. 2 and 4. The sheets S are omitted from FIG. 3.

The sheet dispensing mechanism includes a rectangular frame whose sides61 are supported by two laterally.

frame members 64, best shown in FIG. 10. Each of these members has aplate portion located outside the housing. The flanges 63 extend throughslots 28 and 30 in walls 16, 18. Section 65 of plate 65 is disposedlower and is ofiset from the upper section 65 as clearly shown in FIG.10. The forward free ends of plates 65 are formed with outwardlyextending flanges 66 having vertical' slots 68. Secured to the flanges66 by screws 70 is a sheet dispensing member 72, best shown in FIG. 11.This member is a channel-shaped plate disposed with its flat bottom wall74 in a vertical position. The flat wall 74 has a slot 75 and aforwardly extending flap 76 disposed longitudinally between the ends ofmember 72.

Secured to the back of wall 74 by screws and nuts 73 is another channelmember 77. This member has a top wall 78 disposed at an angle to forwardwall 79 and rear wall 69. Wall 78 inclines downwardly and re-arwardly,as best shown in FIG. 2, to provide a guide for passage of sheet S inturn through slot 75. Rear wall 69 of member 77 is vertical.

Two cylindrical sockets 80 and 80 are attached to an angle bracket 81which is secured by screws 82 threaded in holes 26 at the upper cornersof front wall 22. Two other similar sockets 89 and 89 are attached toanother angle bracket 83 held by screws 83 near the bottom of thehousing. Two rods 84 and 84 are versupported in sockets 80 and 80. Theother rod is supported in sockets 80- and 80 Between the upperhorizontal flange 85 of member 72 and the upper bracket 81 is a slattedexpausible wall 86. A similar expansible wall 88 is mounted between thelower flange 87 of member 72 and the lower bracket 83. The rods passthrough holes or slots 89 located near the ends of the slats andcorresponding holes in flanges 85, 87 and bracket 88 aligned withsockets 80, 80 and 89 80 The structure of the walls 86 and 88, as bestshown in FIGS. 2 and 6, includes a flexible fabric back 90 to which theslats 91 are attached so that the walls assume the expansible andretractable zig-zag positions shown in FIG. 2. The lower end of wall 86and the upper end of wall 88 are preferably cemented to the flanges 8'5and 87 of member 72. The upper end of wall 86 is secured to thehorizontal bracket 81. is attached to bracket 83. Thus, when the frame60 moves up the walls 86, 88 contract and expand respectively to concealthe opening 24 at the front of the housing,

Patented Aug. 15, 1961 The lower end of wall 88 a Disposed transverselyacross the sides 61 of frame 60 near" the rear thereof is ashaft 92whichi carries two freely rotatable flanged wheels- 96' and 98?supportingtoothed endless rubberbelts 101, 103. A sleeve-shaft 95- bestshown in FIGS. Z-Scarries another flanged wheel" 99'. A- fourth flangedwheel 97 is carried by another sleeve shaft 94. Wheels 97- and '99-support the forwardi ends of belts 103; 101'. Shafts-Mand 95are-*rotatablymounted on a shaft IOOpassingaxially' therethroughi Thisshaft passes through the sides 61 of the frame 60? and through the'slot32 in side wall 1-8. Aknobhandl'e 102" is secured'on the outer end ofshaft 100'. The shaft 100 terminates in a nut 104=threaded thereon at"onesid'e ofwheel 99.- Secured to shaft 100' is aroller 106' which hasacentral peripheral groove 108-in whichis secureda cord 110. This cordextends-through a holeinwal1 74 andterminates in a knob handle 111-,outside ofrmember: 72. Mounted on sleeve shafts 94land 9$ at their innerends adjacent the sides of roller 106'aretwo ratchet wheels 112 and 114.Pivotablepawls 116' are carried at" thesides of the roller 106 forengaging in thev teeth of theratchet wheels. Springs 118 holdthepawls'in: engagement with the teeth. Thesesprings are carriedon thesides of roller 106;

A pair of rods or arms 120, 122 arervertical'ly disposed and are carriedat the sides 61 oftheframe 61L Theserods terminate at their upper endsin closed. loops 124. which are juxtaposed to each other. These; loopscan be passed through the slot 34 when the frame is raised: sufficientlyso that the freeend, 38 of hook 3.6 v can be engaged therein to holdthe. frame elevated. Thev lower; ends of rods 120, 122 are; secured by:nuts 126 and screws 128 to the sides of the frame; The rods extend:verticallyfrom the sides of the frame and are-them bent inwardly: tojuxtapose the loops 124together.

In operation of the device, drawer 44z-willhe drawn, out; of the deviceand loaded with a. pile of sheets: S- The. frame 60 will be in anelevated position with; loops; 12.4; ofrods 120, 122 engaged by the end38.: (if hook: 3.6." t the top of the housing. The loadedidrawer. willthenbe pushed inwardly to the positions shown in FIGS. 2-44. The hookwill then be pivoted outwardly o; disengage; the loops 124 and the framewill be: lowered so. that the; lower straight toothedsides of'belts;101,.103-rest10n the; uppermost one of the sheets S. This will align,the forward end of the topmost sheet: with theslot 75. in member 72. Theknob 111 will then be pulled fQ TWaIid. manually unwinding cord 110 tocause roller 1.0 to. turn. Since ratchet wheels 112 and 114 areheldengaged. with the roller by the pawls 116, thesewheels; will turn. withthe roller 106 to rotate: the shafts 9 95. and wheels 96-99. Thisadvances the lower sides. of he. belts which are resting on thetopmost:Qfi sheets S 301 that this sheet is pushed about half waythrough. slot,75.. Knob 102 may now be turned manually to turn shaft 100 rotatingroller 106 in the opposite direction, rewind; ingthe cord 110 thereonand retractinghandle 1.1L. B cause of the ratchet arrangement and thefri tional. n gagement of the belts on the. sheets, they do not move asthe cord is being retracted.

The topmost exposed sheet S is shownin dotted. lines, in FIG. 2 where ithas been partially pushed out. thro g slot 75. This sheet may now:- bemanually th ra n from the device. As this sheet is being withdrawn. therear-portions of the lower sides oithe belts comein contact with, thenext lower sheet atthe top. of the pile and advance this sheet to aposition where it extends. par ially out of slot 75 as the topmost sheetS is drawn. cle r of the device. Thus, Withdrawing each topmost sheetad.- vances the next sheet under it into position for removal from thedispenser. As the successive sheets are with drawn the pile lowersgradually in. height. The frame 60 and belts move downwardly since theweight of the frameplusthe weight of thewheels, beltsand there. mainderof the sheet advancing mechanism rest on the pile of sheets. The slotsin the sides of the housing serve as guides for vertical movement of theframe. While the frame moves down, wall- 88;cont,ractswhi le wall 86expands keeping the fret-reopening 2 4-. f the housing closed. Whentallof;the; sheets, are dispensed fromthe devicmthe frame can beiittedby. ga p ng hei orwa dlv extending flap 76 or the plates65. Theframewillr belifted until loops 124 again extend through slot 34 at the top of thehousing, The forward end 38 ofthe hook 36 can then be engaged inthe-hooks to holdtheframeelevated until; drawer-44 canagain be loadedWitha pile of sheets: andi replaced in thehousing for operation as.described;

The inchned upper side 7810f member 77 providesa lowerguide for theforwardly advancing sheets. Elapt 76' provides an upper guide. Thevertical; slots, 68,-,in1 flanges 66' makeit possible-to adjust member72;.50 that slot 75 is adjustably locatedinoptimumpositiondepend; ing'onthe thicknessof'the-sheets. to be dispensed from the device.

This device makes it possible to provide the public.

with a sheet dispensing means which requires no attention by-anattendant otherthan refilling it whenempty; Thus, waiters inrestaurants, ushers in theatres, attendants. in toilet rooms, andothersare-freeof the chore of manual y: dispensing sheets as hasheretofore been required.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred: embodiment-of myinvention, it is to be understoodzthat I do not limit myself totheprecise construction herein disclosed and thatvarious changes andmodificationsmaythe made within the scope of the invention as definedin. the. appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as,

new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A sheet dispensing device, comprising. a housing having a closed topand side walls, and an open front wall, meansqfor supportinga pile ofsheets in, the housing,

near the open front wall, endless; belt means disposed within thehousing and positioned to rest on. the. top of said pile, said beltmeans being. movable as the topmost one of said sheets is drawn out ofthe housing through. the opening in the front wall to frictionallyengage the next lower sheet on the pile and advance said next sheet par;tially out of said opening, said sidewalls having v,e rt ic al slotstherein, plate members extending through said slots, and a frame movablysupporting the beltmeans, said plate members being attached to the framewhereby the frame is guided by said vertical slots in vertical movementin the housing, said frame carrying manually operable means for movingthe, belt; means to advance the topmost sheet partially out of thehousing, the last-. named means including a roller, a cord attached tosaid roller for actuating the same ratchet wheels engaged; with saidroller, and flanged wheels mounted on shafts en gaged with said ratchetwheels, said flanged wheels sup- P said e t eans, e eby p l i s id. ordurns said roller, ratchet wheels, and flanged wheels and advances saidbelt means, therebeing a central sup-. porting the first-named shaftsand secured to said roller, said central shaft extending outof thehousing and being manually rotatable to retract said cord without movingsaid belt means, said top wall having a slot the gei n a catch memberdisposed nearthe last-named slot, and a vertical arm attached to theframe and adapted to, extend through said slot to engage said catchmember forholding the frame and belt means in an elevated position.

2. A sheet dispensing device, comprising a housing having a closed topand side walls, and an open front wall, means for supporting a pile ofsheets in the housing near the open front wall, endless belt meansdisposed within the housing and positioned to rest on the top of saidpile, said belt means being movable as the topmost one of said sheets isdrawn out of the housing through the opening in the front wall tofrictionally engage the next lower sheet on the pile and advance saidnext sheet partially out of said opening, said side walls havingvertical slots therein, plate members extending through said slots, anda frame movably supporting the belt means, said plate members beingattached to the frame whereby the frame is guided by said vertical slotsin vertical movement in the housing, said frame carrying manuallyoperable means for moving the belt means to advance the topmost sheetpartially out of the housing, the lastnamed means including a cordoperated roller, ratchet wheels engaged with said roller, and flangedwheels mounted on shafts engaged with said ratchet wheels, said flangedwheels supporting said belt means, whereby pulling said cord turns saidroller, ratchet wheels, and flanged wheels and advances said belt means,there being a central shaft supporting the first-named shafts andsecured to said roller, said central shaft extending out of the housingand being manually rotatable to retract said cord without moving saidbelt means, said top wall having a slot therein, a catch member disposednear the lastnamed slot, and a vertical arm attached to the frame andadapted to extend through said slot to engage said catch member forholding the frame and belt means in an elevated position, a slottedmember carried by said plate members in front of said front wall, theslotted member providing a guide for sheets dispensed from the housing,and slatted walls carried by said slotted member, said slatted wallsbeing collapsible and expansible for keeping the opening in the frontwall covered except for the slot in the slotted member as the framemoves in the housing.

3. A sheet dispensing device, comprising a housing having a closed topand side walls, and an open front wall, means for supporting a pile ofsheets in the housing near the open front wall, endless belt meansdisposed Within the housing and positioned to rest on the top of saidpile, said belt means being movable as the topmost one of said sheets isdrawn out of the housing through the opening in the front wall tofrictionally engage the next lower sheet on the pile and advance saidnext sheet partially out of said opening, said side walls havingvertical slots therein, plate members extending through said slots, anda frame movably supporting the belt means, said plate members beingattached to the frame whereby the frame is guided by said vertical slotsin vertical movement in the housing, said frame carrying manuallyoperable means for moving the belt means to advance the topmost sheetpartially out of the housing, the lastnamed means including a cordoperated roller, ratchet wheels engaged with said roller, and flangedwheels mounted on shafts engaged with said ratchet wheels, said flangedwheels supporting said belt means, whereby pulling said cord turns saidroller, ratchet wheels, and flanged wheels and advances said belt means,there being a central shaft supporting the first-named shafts andsecured to said roller, said central shaft extending out of the housingand being manually rotatable to retract said cord without moving saidbelt means, said top Wall having a slot therein, a catch member disposednear the lastnamed slot, and a vertical arm attached to the frame andadapted to extend through said slot to engage said catch member forholding the frame and belt means in an elevated position, a slottedmember carried by said plate members in front of said front wall, theslotted member providing a guide for sheets dispensed from the housing,and slatted walls carried by said slotted member, said slatted wallsbeing collapsible and expansible for keeping the opening in the frontwall covered except for the slot in the slotted member as the framemoves in the housing, said plate members having slotted flanges securedto the ends of the slotted member, the slots in the flanges permittingadjustable positioning of said slotted member depending on the thicknessof sheets to be dispensed from the pile.

4. A sheet dispensing device, comprising a housing having closed top andside walls, and an open front wall, means for supporting a pile ofsheets in the housing near the open front wall, endless belt meansdisposed within the housing and positioned to rest on the top of saidpile, said belt means being movable as the topmost one of said sheets isdrawn out of the housing through the opening in the front wall tofrictionally engage the next lower sheet on the pile and advance saidnext sheet partially out of said opening, said side walls havingvertical slots therein, plate members extending through said slots, anda frame movably supporting the belt means, said plate members beingattached to the frame whereby the frame is guided by said vertical slotsin vertical movement in the housing, said frame carrying manuallyoperable means for moving the belt means to advance the topmost sheetpartially out of the housing, the last-named means including a cordoperated roller, ratchet wheels engaged with said roller, and flangedwheels mounted on shafts engaged with said ratchet wheels, said flangedwheels supporting said bel-t means, whereby pulling said cord turns saidroller, ratchet wheels, and flanged wheels and advances said belt means,there being a central shaft supporting the first-named shafts andsecured to said roller, said central shaft extending out of thehousingand being manually rotatable to retract said cord Without moving saidbelt means, said top wall having a slot therein, a catch member disposednear the last-named slot, and a vertical arm attached to the frame andadapted to extend through said slot to engage said catch member forholding the frame and belt means in an elevated position, a slottedmember carried by said plate members in front of said front wall, theslotted member providing a guide for sheets dispensed from the housingand slatted walls carried by said slotted member, said slatted wallsbeing collapsible and expansible for keeping the opening in the frontwall covered except for the slot in the slotted member as the framemoves in the housing, said plate members having slotted flanges securedto ends of the slotted member, the slots in the flanges permittingadjustable positioning of said slotted member depending on the thicknessof sheets to be dispensed from the pile, said housing having a rear wallwith an opening therein, there being a drawer removably disposed in thehousing and providing the firstnamed means, said drawer being insertablethrough the opening in the rear wall.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS363,694 Sperry May 24, 1887 588,066 Hoyt Aug. 10, 1897 784,325 HatchMar. 7, 1905 1,154,634 Hoberg Sept. 28, 1915

